As the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo rides into town for its 35th 10-day run at the Thomas &Mack Center, numerous individuals deserve credit for first bringing this event to Las Vegas in 1985, then turning it into the spectacle it has since become. Benny Binion is arguably at the top of that list, as he was influential in luring the Wrangler NFR from Oklahoma City to Vegas, then offered to put up his own money early on — if needed — to ensure its financial stability.
That proved unnecessary, since in 1987 — Year 3 in Las Vegas — the NFR began a run of sellout performances that continues to this day. Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point Hotel &Casino, and Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson were and remain key players in that success story.
But they both point to one person who really made this event a Las Vegas staple every December: Shawn Davis.
“Benny got it here, and Shawn changed the NFR’s format, tightened it to a two-hour rodeo,” Gaughan said, noting that prior to Davis taking over as the event’s general manager, NFR go-rounds could last 3½ hours or more. “Two hours is perfect for Las Vegas.”
Christenson put it in the context of stepping from one level to the next. The first level was bringing a much-needed event to the Thomas &Mack Center, which first opened in 1984 and was not financially solvent, even with UNLV men’s basketball in the midst of its heyday. At the time, Christenson was assistant director of the Thomas &Mack, and luring the Wrangler NFR helped ensure the arena’s long-term viability.
